Amanda Blanc
Insurance Census: Gender: Battle of the Sexes?
In the first of a three-part series on diversity in the industry, Post analyses the role of gender in insurance. Does the traditional image of a male-dominated industry hold true, or do females have a strong presence across the sector?
Brokers rate clarity of contacts crucial amid continued insurer restructures
Axa has retained the top spot in a broker survey of insurer performances in dealing with claims, underwriting and accounts.
Insurer-owned brokers: An endangered species?
The insurer-owned broker has become a permanent industry fixture in recent years, but a number of sales may have put the model in doubt. Are its days numbered?
Post Top 100 UK Insurers Supplement: Interview with Amanda Blanc
Amanda Blanc saw her move to Axa as a chance to test herself, and it is a mission she continues to revel in.
Williams: claims colleagues deserve equal pay and greater recognition
Axa's David Williams has called for parity in remunerating claims employees who possess equivalent knowledge and experience to their underwriting counterparts, as he departed the field last week to focus purely on underwriting.
Axa direct and affinity restructure looms
Axa is expected to reveal the new structure for its direct personal lines and affinity business next week, following previously announced plans to merge the two operations.
Williams leaves claims under Blanc's new structure
One point of contact for brokers is the main selling point for Axa's decision to merge its commercial and personal intermediary operations, according to Amanda Blanc.
Market moves: Hiscox reshuffles management team in busy week for insurers
Axa, Mitsui Sumitomo and Zurich were the busiest recruiters last week, but Hiscox has been the most active in the past seven days after reshuffling its management team.
Amanda Blanc elected CII president
Axa commercial lines chief executive Amanda Blanc has been elected as the Chartered Insurance Institute's 116th president, following yesterday's annual general meeting.
Post magazine - 19 July 2012
The latest issue of Post is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
Editor's comment: Not so jolly holidays for insurers
So school is out for summer and, as children and MPs bask in the knowledge that there is no homework until September, insurers have been left hanging until term starts up again.
Axa Personal Lines and Commercial Lines brought back together under Blanc
Axa's decision to revert to structuring its UK general insurance business down distribution lines rather than business segments has been widely welcomed by brokers, but the market is awaiting clarity over the direction of its direct business.
Blanc unveils "long term" broker plan for Axa
New personalities, changes in the market and Axa Commercial's success in improving customers' perceptions of the business have prompted the insurer to change its model from one split down business lines to one based on distribution channels.
Blanc to lead Axa's joint commercial and personal lines broker business
Axa commercial lines chief executive Amanda Blanc has been selected to head up the firm's new combined broker business, in a bid to strengthen capabilities and propositions in the intermediated market.
Hardy latest Swiftcover exec to quit Axa PL prompting start-up rumours
The departure of personal lines boss Steve Hardy from Axa has prompted concerns not only of a culture clash between the original Axa Personal Lines business and the Swiftcover staff it inherited following the 2007 takeover, but that an overly controlling…
Editor's comment: Network connections
With rumours buzzing round the market about the nature of the fall out between Aviva and Broker Network, there have been inevitable suggestions of a sign that insurers are giving further thought to the value derived from some networks.
Post Broking Supplement: Interview with Reich MD Simon Taylor
Reich Insurance managing director Simon Taylor talks acquisitions, art and his "service, service, service" mantra.
Blanc reveals Newcastle has been tough for Axa, but hails improved PL connectivity
Axa Commercial CEO Amanda Blanc has admitted that Newcastle has proved the most testing of its recent branch openings.
Cunningham Lindsey young gun wins CII award
Cunningham Lindsey assistant adjuster and major loss surveyor John Newnes has won the Cardiff Chartered Insurance Institute Young Achiever of the Year award.
Axa and CII team up on underwriting academy
Axa Commercial Lines has launched an underwriting academy in partnership with the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Axa starts with Blanc slate to help steer commercial business around
Brokers continue to experience a "lack of connectivity" with Axa Personal Lines, despite Commercial Lines getting a glowing report since Amanda Blanc joined to head up the business just over a year ago.
Post magazine - 29 March 2012
The latest issue of Post is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
Oval and Giles management changes sign of wider consolidator shake-up
The change at the top at Oval has been a "long time coming", it was claimed this week, during a 24-hour period that saw another shake-up at rival consolidator Giles result in managing director Sarah Lyons being placed "on leave" amid "contractual issues".
Brokers wary over Groupama transfers as S&P puts Aviva and Axa on rating alert
Up for sale insurer may be helped by wider eurozone worries.